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Azhar Ali reaches milestone of 10,000 runs in first-class cricket

Azhar Ali completes 10,000 runs in first class cricket

KARACHI: Azhar Ali returned to competitive cricket with a well paced ton on the first day of the second round of the Quaid-e-Azam trophy match between his side Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and United Bank Limited (UBL).

Azhar Ali who was rested for the ODI series against Sri Lanka because of a knee injury, made a come back in the domestic circuit by scoring a century for SNGPL. Ali also completed 10,000 first class runs with this ton. Pakistan’s next assignment is an ODI series and T20I series in New Zealand for which the squad is yet to be announced. However, Azhar Ali who was part of the side that won the Champions Trophy earlier this year in June will be in line for a recall to the ODI side.

In testing conditions of New Zealand, Pakistan will be in need of a solid opening pair, and while both Imam ul Haq and Fakhar Zaman have laid their claims by hitting a ton each in their short careers, the experience of Ali will be vital to steady Pakistan’s batting lineup.

Pakistan will go into the ODI series against New Zealand with an unbeaten ODI streak of nine matches.

Great achievement, congrats. Looks like he enjoys opening only in domestics.

I don’t know if he wanted to demote himself down the order but if he was forced by Mickey (or the other management) he should have refused to do so.He did great as an opener and to replace him with Masood of all people was unacceptable.

@MMHS but bigger question is that is it mickey's call? I don't expect him to be this naive, they are just trying to fix a thing which ain't broken.

I am little disappointed with Mickey Arthur, the Test coach. His Test success was with SAF, whose team composition was totally different. For Asian teams, in Asia one has to grind opponents, which Azhar is very good at. Normally, AUS/SAF puts their best batsman at 3; but Azhar isn’t PAK’s best batsman, rather he is the best scorer - his best spot should be opener or No. 4, but never 3. And, he has delivered as opener in 4 different countries outside Asia in short time.

Former skipper Azhar Ali said on Tuesday that although his doctors would make the final call on his fitness and availability for the upcoming series against New Zealand, he was optimistic about his chances for a return to international cricket.

Ali was incapacitated following a hamstring injury in an ODI in Sydney in January this year, which Pakistan lost by 92 runs.

"I have been consulting my doctors on a daily basis and they are taking it one step at a time," he said.

During the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy series in Karachi, Ali scored a century in his comeback match. "It is never easy to make a comeback after an injury and it is always a frustrating time," he said, adding that the experience was a "pleasing" one that gave him hope of a return to international cricket.

The opener said he had been working very hard with doctors for over a month, and that he now felt more comfortable on the pitch.

"I will continue my work, which I have been doing for more than a month," he said.

Pakistan are to tour New Zealand later this month, and Ali said that he had enough time before the series began to get fit.

Azhar Ali captained the Lahore Qalandars in the opening season of Pakistan Super League, but was replaced by New Zealand’s Brendon McCollum in season two and remained unpicked for the third season.

"Challenges and disappointments are part of life but I always take things positively. I am trying to focus on the formats in which I am getting to play," he added.

No one touches his figures in Asia when it comes to opening or one down in tests.

what sets Azhar apart from everyone else is hes mentally very strong, knows and has proven can score runs anywhere in the world be it Double centuries in Australia or centuries on green tops in england.

Personally, I started watching cricket during the era of Saeed Anwar, and since his departure from the scenes of International cricket, no Pakistani opener was able to play with that style, elegance, aggression, and beauty.
He scored 194 with a great strike rate when the bats were not on steroids. So, I am not a big fan of any current opener.

I believe Fakhar has a great potential. I am sure Imam can be turned into a great batsman as well.

If I recall the finals of the Champions trophy, yes, Fakhar played an impressive resilient knock. However, he was stuck in there for a long time not knowing what to do. At times, Indian pacers bowled well, and at that very moment, the man who took the score ahead was Azhar Ali. His knock was more pleasing to the eye; his knock was more encouraging for the Pakistani spectators. Every time, Azhar was on strike, the heart felt at peace. He struck shots with assurance.

If he plays in the same manner that he played in that final. He is my choice number one from the current lot. Yes, before Fakhar too, because when Fakhar was stuck in the middle. Azhar made his bat talk and encouraged Fakhar to hang in there.